Learn About Diclofenac (Voltaren)
Ladies, you have heard about diclofenac. It's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, often sold a Voltaren! This med's amazing for reducing inflammation and pain in the body. The topical form is so common, and it works wonders on muscle strains! This form is even available without a prescription, which is why it's so common! Prescription forms find this med as tablets, capsules, and suppositories. Hospitals give it to patients as an injection too!
This medication is a perfect mild muscle pain treatment. It's even a great medication for arthritis! Ladies, you won't have to deal with cramps either, since one brand is an approved medication for severe menstrual cramps. Excellent! It even acts as a migraine treatment in some cases. Of course, ladies, learn about this medication before taking it as your chosen pain relief treatment!
How It Works
Ladies, you need diclofenac! This is an amazing NSAID, and it's widely available too. It will get rid of pain and inflammation so quickly. It doesn't even contain steroids, which is what allows more people to take it! Ladies, this medication stops your COX enzymes from making prostaglandins. This is important. Why? This hormone appears around injuries, triggering lots of inflammation and pain! Without as much of this hormone, both of these will go away.
You have a choice of two forms here, ladies: potassium and sodium. The potassium form of this med absorbs faster. It means immediate pain relief! Need something better for the long term? The sodium form works better for that!
Amazing Uses
You want this medication to treat general aches and pains. It's very effective! Ladies, you can even get more specific effects from it when you have issues with your joints, bones, and muscles. Do you have gout or another form of arthritis? Diclofenac helps with that! It's actually a common medication for these conditions!
Of course, this medication is great at treating sprains and strains to muscles and ligaments. It can even help with chronic back pain occasionally! Ladies, this medication also relieves pain from migraines, toothaches, and menstrual cramps. This makes it incredibly versatile, so don't discount it for a more common NSAID immediately!
Side Effects
Yes, this medication has side effects, just like all the others! Thankfully, they're mild with diclofenac. They also don't happen often! When they do, the most common side effects are appetite loss, nausea, diarrhea, and stomachaches. Ladies, you'll also want to watch for headaches, vomiting, and dizziness!
There's good news, ladies. The plaster and gel forms of this medication come with fewer side effects! Why? You're not consuming as much medicine! Of course, there are some skin side effects. They include a mild rash, dry skin, and itchy skin. Your skin can even be a little more sensitive to the sun. Rare effects of this medication are an allergic reaction, stomach bleeding, and heart failure. Other extremely uncommon side effects include liver issues, stomach inflammation, stroke, and a heart attack.
Precautions To Remember
Yes, this medication is common. But ladies, you still need to take precautions! Talk about your medical history with your doctor. If you deal with Crohn's disease, a blood disorder, or even lupus, diclofenac's not the right medication for you. You may also need to avoid it if you have kidney or liver disease. Make sure to tell your doctor about any issues with stomach ulcers and high blood pressure too! They'll need to give you special instructions if they still prescribe it. And ladies? Avoid this one if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it before. You should even talk to your doctor first if you have ever reacted to another NSAID! Heart health matters with this medication, so if you're dealing with anything, including heart failure, inform your doctor first.
Medication Interactions
Most medications come with some interactions, and diclofenac is one of them! There are over 350 mild medication interactions with this one. So, ladies, write down all of the medications and supplements you take. Give the list to your doctor! They'll be able to check for all of the potential interactions and help you avoid them. Examples of meds that interact with diclofenac are blood pressure meds and heart medicines. Diuretics count here, so make sure they're on your list if you take any!
Ladies, do you take another form of diclofenac? Let your doctor know. They need to ensure your dose doesn't get too high. You'll also need to make a note of blood thinners and other NSAIDs before taking diclofenac. They can interact with it too! Your doctor has your back, ladies, so make sure they have the information they need.